Is the Kalamazoo Promise worth keeping?

The Kalamazoo Promise has an impact inside and outside of the classroom

courtesy: Mott High School

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Students who attend a public Kalamazoo high school for their entire high school career and live in the district during those four years have the opportunity to attend a Michigan college or University for free.

This, of course, is old news.

The Kalamazoo Promise was announced in November 2005 and has since proven to be one of the most groundbreaking educational programs in the state.

Seven years later, it's time to examine the Promise's impact inside and out of the classrooms.

Has it impacted student academic behavior?

Do Kalamazoo public schools have a better image?

Michigan Radio's Cynthia Canty spoke with Michelle Miller-Adams, a political scientist and professor at Grand Valley State University and a research fellow at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.

Governor Snyder’s budget includes a two percent increase for higher ed. That’s close to the current inflation rate, which means, essentially, no extra money for state colleges and universities.

Now, you can argue that times are still tough and everyone has to watch spending. But in fact, higher education has been hit harder than any other major budget category since Rick Snyder became governor two years ago. Over that time, the state has cut support for higher ed by more than 11 percent.